And now for something completely different . . .

A Modern House

Over they years we've become quite enamored with "modern" house design.  We appreciate the sleek lines, the open spaces and effective use of space, light and site that most modern design offers.  So, in the interest of "starting fresh", here's a modern house plan that we offer our thoughts on.  You can find this plan, and others of the modern ilk, at: Click Here 

No gable, hip or overwrought Victorian rooflines here.  No excess decoration or massive, complicated foundations, and no false nod to any historic architectural style. This plan is simple, efficient, and, depending on your choice of materials and finishes, possibly quite affordable.

 Here's a house plan that fits in a variety of settings - oriented in one direction, it's perfect for a very private home in an urban neighborhood (perfect for a zero-lot line location), which is the way we first viewed this plan.  If it sits on a city lot, this home would likely face the street with the garage wall.  First reactions were a little harsh - it seems a garage wall - even one in brick or stone - greeting passers-by isn't very neighborhood friendly.  But as we discussed it we began to see that, with proper design and appropriate "growies" on the wall, this could indeed be a quite attractive entrance to the property.  The entrance to the garage would be to the side (hopefully south-facing) of the property, with a walk way on the opposite side to lead guests to the entrance of the home.

As you move from the front gate towards the "back door", we can imagine a beautiful garden wall, separating this home from the neighbors.  Once inside, guests or family members are greeted with a friendly, serviceable entrance.  We would move the closet (3 on the plan) to the opposite wall (1 on the plan) to open up that entry space and allow for a better view into kitchen/dining and living rooms.  The placement of the powder room is handy for both guests and family.  And the view through the open staircase towards the front door would be lovely.

We think the spaces in this plan are well-thought out.  The open kitchen plan with plenty of work space plus a casual dining area is augmented by the large pantry area and the adjacent "utility" or laundry room.  The window wall (facing south, of course, for solar gain) allows the kitchen and dining areas to be flooded with natural light.  The sliding doors provide direct access to the terrace and the pool (not a swimmer?  Just build a beautiful terrace with an outdoor kitchen instead!).  Moving into the living area, again you're greeted with a wall of windows to overlook your back garden.  One issue that came up in our discussion is where to place a television in this living room.  Many plans these days show TVs over fireplaces, which we really dislike, but with the long wall between the window walls, options exist for TV, bookshelving, and more.  The furniture layout shown is a suggestion only; you could create separate furniture groupings or arrange furniture that could face either the entertainment area or the fireplace.   In this city location, the door near the fireplace becomes the gateway to the rear garden.

Upstairs, we really like the size of the master suite, again flooded with natural light.  The closet space is adequate and the master bath is laid out to provide plenty of space, privacy, light and ventilation.  In this bedroom there are options for placement of the bed and other bedroom furniture, a feature not common in many house plans.  

We like the hallway for its separation of master suite and children's rooms - and it provides great "gallery" space to hang prized family photos or artwork - and we really like the "Jack 'n Jill" bathroom shared by the children's bedrooms.  We also appreciate the fact that the window placement provides good light and ventilation in these rooms.

While this plan shows no basement, one could easily be added; a stairway going down could be constructed below the existing stair leading up.  In our neck of the woods we think basements are pretty essential, and truly for most families today, a basement allows not just ample storage, but space for a family room, home office or fitness area while not increasing the basic footprint of the building.

Now, what if you have a large site - say, a rural property or lake property?  The beauty of this plan is that it can easily be adapted.  The orientation of this house could change to meet your site - the door near the fireplace could become the main entrance, with the south (yes, south) side facing the lake, the view of rolling hills, or green pastures.  The garage could be shifted to the north of the property and flipped so that cars would enter there, allowing the south garage wall to become part of the landscaping of the gardens and terrace. 

Wherever you choose to build, this home offers lots of advantages for those with a "modern bent".  See the sidebar article for more thoughts on this house plan.